All Questions
Tagged with single-word-requests expressions
585
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59
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3
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What word denotes a belief that apparently inanimate objects actually express a malicious, autonomous will?
I came across this word a few years ago, but can't find it now. I do not mean deodand, animism, pathetic fallacy, scapegoating, anthropomorphism, or personification (Word for attaching blame to ...
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41
votes
18
answers
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What do you call a person who keeps talking about art; studies art, criticizes art, and thinks he'd be amazing with it. But he doesn't practice it
I've come across this word before. It's not "hypocrite". But the definition of the word was very specific. Basically it's an adjective, it's something you call a person who's really into art; like for ...
- 475
36
votes
9
answers
9k
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Person who pretends to not understand unless one speaks in exactly the words they expect [duplicate]
I just realized there are some people around my workplace who
always try to correct me when using a certain word, saying that that's not how I should speak, and I should use other words (the ones ...
- 475
35
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29
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Derogatory term for a corporate employee
I’m looking for a derogatory term for a person who works in a big, international business.
In Polish we have a few informal words for that, like korpoludek (“corpo little guy”) and korpoczłowiek (“...
- 505
35
votes
8
answers
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What is the idiom, expression or proverb for 'If you let them use you once they will use you for life'?
What is the idiom, expression or proverb for
If you bend once, they will bend you for life.
In Indian culture in marathi language, we have a saying
"Jithe oli/mau mathi, tithe atti" which ...
- 3,102
35
votes
14
answers
6k
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What's a parallel for 'mitigate', for worsening a good situation?
I recently read an article claiming that employing some tactic was OK but could mitigate many of the good effects of the main action.
What word should the author have used, as mitigate means to ...
- 11.9k
34
votes
16
answers
35k
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One word - someone so scared that he can't move
I am not able to find an appropriate word to fill in for "scared".
He was so scared, he couldn't move. He turned to stone.
He was too shocked. He almost turned to stone and could not move.
...
- 1,603
34
votes
18
answers
18k
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Is there a word for being so polite as to appear insincere?
I'm looking for a term in English to describe being so polite that one appears to be insincere.
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33
votes
13
answers
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How do I politely say I have used my mouth while drinking water from a bottle?
Is there a one word substitute for the scenario below, and what is the politest way of saying it to another person or colleague?
I drink water from my bottle by touching my mouth
When someone ...
- 439
31
votes
18
answers
12k
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Completing something just to finish it despite lack of interest - is called …?
Recently I started reading a novel that I was excited to read. After getting approximately 45% into it, I lost the pace. It started becoming slow and lousy.
I thought to leave it unfinished but it ...
- 1,927
30
votes
9
answers
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Word or phrase describing situation where adequately addressing "X is not harmful" involves a self-destructive proof
There's a nice cartoon on the web that epitomises what I'm trying to describe:
Another dimension of this behaviour, is that it is often used as part of a manipulation attempt, to get someone to do ...
- 1,220
28
votes
19
answers
7k
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What are the words for people who cause trouble believing they know better?
Update: There is a similar question, and I am thankful for pointing this out, as I found it interesting and useful to read answers to that question, yet my question is different: I am talking about ...
- 2,062
27
votes
4
answers
6k
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Word meaning: A slip of the tongue which suggests how you actually feel, often humorous
I'm sure there's a word which matches this definition. Where you make a slight mistake in saying something and a friend will nudge you and say "oh, so that's what you really think?!"
One example, ...
- 441
26
votes
4
answers
2k
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It's so cold that if it rains it'll snow
I want a replacement for rains in my title, as it doesn't really make sense since it won't rain, it will snow.
I think I could use precipitates but I wouldn't use that in conversation as it seems ...
- 1,105
24
votes
7
answers
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How to say with one word: "it has a tree structure"
When objects relate to each other as pearls on a string (open, not closed), then we can say that the whole structure is "sequential" or "linear".
The same way, we can call something "cyclic" if its ...
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